Mitchell Wiggins obit

Basketball Player Mitchell Wiggins Has Died 

He was not on the list.

Remember Andrew Wiggins taking occasional time off last season, and the season before? The issue was reported as serious family matters and the Warriors backed their forward wholeheartedly. The probable reason was his father, Mitchell Wiggins’ prolonged illness. But on Friday, he breathed his last as the Dubs nation poured in with prayers for Andrew Wiggins and his family.

The issue was first picked up through Andrew Wiggins’ sister, Angelica’s IG Story. The fans noticed Angey posting a picture of her father with the caption, “Rest easy. You’ll forever be missed. I love you forever Daddy.” The player or the franchise did not issue any statement regarding that yet but the Dubs nation is mourning the loss with the family since then.

Warriors fans pay respect to Andrew Wiggins’ father after heartbreaking loss

A fan took to social media and wrote, “I want to offer my condolences and prayers to Andrew Wiggins and his family today on the passing of his father, Mitchell Wiggins. It’s been a tough couple of years for their family and I can’t imagine the pain and grief they are going through right now. May God Rest His Soul.” After confirmation that Angey indeed broke the news, the Warriors fans gathered in numbers to pay their respect on X. Wiggins was recently supposed to visit China, but his trip was cancelled. Now we can guess it was probably due to Mitchell’s deteriorating condition.

Another Warriors fan posted, “This is so sad”, followed by sad emojis. Earlier this year, the Warriors announced that Wiggins would miss time on the court for an unspecified timeline. Shams Charania dug deeper into it and disclosed, “I’m told Andrew Wiggins is dealing and tending to a serious family matter right now, and the Warriors are giving him his space, they’re giving him his time,” Charania further added, “The expectation is, Steve Kerr spoke about this, Andrew Wiggins will be returning at some point of this season. They’re optimistic about that. But they also understand he’s going through this process. We certainly wish him, and his family, the best as he deals with it.”

One sympathized with the family and wrote, “Sending my deepest condolences to @22wiggins and his family on the passing of his father. So sorry for your loss. May God’s Love console and comfort you.” Mitchell Wiggins was a renowned name in the 80s, playing for the Bulls and the Rockets. He also played for the Sixers in the early 90s before moving abroad. Wiggins Sr. played for Greek side Sporting BC from 1994 to 1996 and won two Greek League Top Scorer awards in 1994 and 1996. AW made sure he stuck by his father’s side during his final moments, something he was criticized for.

He played collegiately at Truett-McConnell College, Clemson University and Florida State University.

Wiggins averaged 23 points and nine rebounds per game during his two seasons at Florida State.

Wiggins was selected by the Indiana Pacers as the 23rd overall pick of the 1983 NBA draft and traded to the Chicago Bulls for Sidney Lowe and a 2nd round pick. In his rookie year, Wiggins played in all 82 regular season games while averaging twelve points, four rebounds and two assists per game.

In the 1984 off-season, the Bulls traded Wiggins with draft picks to the Houston Rockets for Caldwell Jones. He mostly came off the bench behind John Lucas and Lewis Lloyd. In 1987, Lloyd and Wiggins tested positive for cocaine, incurring a two-and-a-half-year suspension from the league.

Both Wiggins and Lloyd were reinstated for the 1989–90 season. Wiggins appeared in 66 games and averaged 15.5 points per game but was criticized by his coach, Don Chaney, for his defense. His playing time decreased after Houston traded for Vernon Maxwell.

After Wiggins became a free agent, no team expressed an interest in Wiggins outside the Philadelphia 76ers. They had intended to sign Wiggins to their roster in November 1990, but backed out when he refused to take a complete physical including a drug test. Wiggins did not play the 1990-91 season, but the 76ers kept in touch with him and signed him to a one-year contract the following year.

The 1991-92 season was Wiggins's last in the NBA. He scored 3,877 points in his NBA career.

Wiggins then went to Europe and had a notable career in the Greek League playing for Milon Nea Smyrni, Sporting Athens, and Panionios Nea Smyrni. He also appeared for CSP Limoges in the French League, the Tondeña 65 Rhummasters in the Philippine Basketball Association, and several minor league teams in the United States.

Wiggins played for the US national basketball team at the 1982 FIBA World Championship, winning the silver medal.

Career history

1983–1984            Chicago Bulls

1984–1987            Houston Rockets

1987    Tampa Bay Stars

1987–1988            Mississippi Jets

1987–1988            Quad City Thunder

1988            Jacksonville Hooters

1989–1990            Houston Rockets

1991–1992            Philadelphia 76ers

1992    Fort Wayne Fury

1992–1993            Oklahoma City Cavalry

1993    Aurora Desio

1993–1994            Milon

1994            Tondeña 65 Rhummasters

1994–1996            Sporting

1996–1997            Panionios

1997–1998            Sporting

1998–1999            Limoges CSP

2002            Hickory Nutz

2002–2003            Spearfish Black Hills Heat

Career highlights and awards

2× Greek League Top Scorer (1994, 1996)

3× Greek League All-Star (1994 I, 1994 II, 1996 I)

2× First-team All-Metro Conference (1982, 1983)